He is thrilled to embrace the opportunity ahead of him as the Crusaders open their season Thursday night at 7 p.m. with an FCIAC-SCC Challenge clash at Sheehan High School of Wallingford.

"I graduated from Trinity Catholic. I played football at Trinity Catholic. I love the family aspect of Trinity Catholic. The support of the administration and the alumni is fabulous," Panapada said. "Everybody knows the name of the football coach here. That's not the case everywhere."

Panapada takes over the Crusaders for Pete Stokes, who departed after four years and Trinity Catholic's 8-3 campaign in 2012 capped by a 49-28 Class S quarterfinal loss to eventual runnerup North Branford.

So the Crusaders and Panapada are building a new foundation for success as they leap into the immense cauldron of FCIAC football.

"The time has flown by this preseason. But our team is where we need to be at this point," said Panapada, whose mantra for 2013 is `Win The Day.' "We've improved with each scrimmage and that's critical. I've seen good things. And I've seen things that are correctable."

"I'm pleased with our leadership," Panapada said. "In my book, it should mean something special to be elected captain."

The speedy Merritt should be Trinity Catholic's most dangerous offensive weapon. But Christensen along with junior running backs Randy Polonia (6-0, 180), Justin Pryzpek (5-10, 160) and Thomas Costigan (6-3, 180) will certainly be in the mix.

Where varsity experience may be a bit short is on the offensive and defensive lines.

"Frankly, we're a young team. A lot of kids haven't played varsity," said Panapada, who understands that Trinity Catholic's total enrollment of boys is roughly 200. "But we feel the kids can overcome that."

In part because Trinity Catholic opens with three road games (at Sheehan, at Westhill, at Fairfield Warde), Saturday will be Alumni Day featuring an open practice.

"I wanted the chance for the alumni and friends of Trinity Catholic football to interact with myself and the team in an informal, non-game day setting," Panapada explained. "In other years, there has been an alumni flag football game in the spring. But we didn't have spring practice this year. So we'll have the flag football game Saturday. And people can watch our practice drills at field level. I want the chance to get to know them as well."

Sheehan is a fair FCIAC-SCC Challenge matchup for Trinity. Sheehan has the same type of overall enrollment and roster issues as the Crusaders.

"Sheehan is a very good team. I saw a scrimmage of theirs live," Panapada said. "They're well-coached, disciplined and precise. They looked very sharp. They are a Class M school with the same type of roster numbers as us. We're clearly in for a battle."

It will not be easy for Trinity Catholic, which will battle FCIAC powers Greenwich and St. Joseph at home while facing Darien and New Canaan on the road.

"We'll be judged by wins and losses. But the coaching staff has to see the kids get better every day. If kids improve in football, school and life then you're winning," Panapada said. "I admire what our kids go through to compete. All that it takes to play football at a Class S size school in a league like the FCIAC. It takes a special kid to do that. You want to coach kids who want to be here. They play football at Trinity Catholic for the right reasons."